1. In the last six months, what have been your greatest accomplishments?
2. In the last six months, what have been some of your greatest challenges?
3. What goals have you met in the first six months of the year? Not met?
4. What events, legislation, etc. have impacted you the most?
5. What are you looking forward to/not looking forward to over the next six months?
In this article, DuBois City Manager John “Herm” Suplizio fielded the aforementioned questions.
Accomplishments
Suplizio touched on many improvements within Dubois City in the past six months, beginning with the City Park. He said it’s seen many upgrades and he pointed to pool being refurbished. He said there’s also been the addition of batting cages, upgrades to the lighting and tennis courts as well as the football field.
“We just re-sodded the entire football field,” said Suplizio. “It gets a lot of use … not just football.”
The city manager also touched on the upgrades to water and sewer lines within DuBois City. He said that a new line was installed on Weber Avenue between Hubert and Chestnut streets. He said it included the road being repaved and a new sidewalk being installed on the south side of the street.
He said that water and sewer lines were both replaced on Bailey Street. This 600-foot project also included new paving and new sidewalks on both sides of the street. He said the city is amidst obtaining the funding for another sewer line project. Suplizio said the city has spent more than $200,000 for paving alleys.
Suplizio boasted the city’s installment of 100 Americans with Disabilities Act ramps.
“We’re extremely proud of that,” said Suplizio.
- Challenges
When asked about challenges the city has faced, Suplizio pointed to project financing, noting that people don’t like to see taxes increase. He also pointed to regulatory agencies.
“They make it extremely hard to do anything in your community,” said Suplizio. “They’re very anti-industry/growth. They hamper any business coming into town.”
- Goals
“We want to continue replacing older water and sewer lines,” said Suplizio. “Some lines in the ground are more than 100 years old.”
He said they would also like to see every alleyway paved.
“We’re just moving DuBois into the future,” said Suplizio.
- Legislation/Events
Suplizio indicated nothing stood out in this category.
- Looking Forward
Suplizio said the city is looking forward to finishing up projects that are currently under way. He noted that once a sewer or waterline project gets started, the area looks like a warzone.